Getting Them Used To Pellets?

[KatieV]

Hello!

I am new to the forum. Last year, I acquired a piggie from Craigslist - he's a crazy haired red & white guy, who was very shy, but is finally now is warming up to us. His name is Little Joe. He alerts the household whenever the fridge is opened.

My question is: I am picking up 2 little piggies tomorrow (supposed to be girls). There were on Craigslist and the pictures showed them in not the greatest conditions. Typical story, person bought piggie from pet store and she was pregnant. They'll be kept separate from Little Joe.

I asked for some pellets to mix with mine (helps keep upset tummies down) and the person said she doesn't have any! Apparently, she's been feeding them carrots and only carrots!

How should I go about getting them used to pellets and other food? They are about 1 month old. I tried to get their mother too, but I think she's been sold to another person. I told her if the person backs out between now and tomorrow, I'd love to take her as well. I've got a 4'x2' cage that I'm turning into a piggie palace.

Thanks!
Katie

 

[madguinealady]

they are young to be leaving the mother.Piggies aren't supposed to be rehomed til they are 6 or 8 weeks as stressful for them.any chance if you getting an older sow to mother them from rescue to make it less stressful for them Intriduce veggies one at a time and small amounts.i got two from rescue at 4 weeks but had lost their mother and i had an older sow to go in with them or wouldn't have got them that young.Good luck Are you thinking of getting your boy a friend or is he getting castrated and going in with the girls

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please quarantine your little boys at first, so they can't carry anything infectious across.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/importance-of-quarantine.108034/

Just offer them pellets, but not too many at once, as they may rather use the bowl as a WC at first! Normally piggies learn from their elders what is safe to eat and what not. Make sure that they have unlimited hay - that should make up to 80% of a diet; veg (about 50g/1 cupful of mixed veg) should make about 10-15 % and pellets only about 5-10%.

Don't fret too much about what they are eating or not at first. It will take you a bit of time to switch them onto a good diet; they will make up for it afterwards! Be careful not to introduce more than one veg, fresh herb or fruit at once - be patient and persistent with what they don't eat. I would recommend to give a little piece of carrot together with other vet at first and to place it with the pellets, so they learn to associate pellets as food. Usually fresh herbs like cilantro/coriander, cucumber or fresh greens go down well with most piggies. Try to introduce one high vitamin C veg or herb daily into their diet, like a slice of pepper of any colour, a floret of broccoli or chunk of stem, or a sprig of fresh cilantro/coriander, parsley, dill or mint every day. Feed fruit and tomato no more than twice in a week.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

From your mentioning Craigslist, I assume that you are from the US or Canada? With members from all over the world, we are grateful if you added your state to your details, so we can always give you the appropriate advice, link and recommendations straight away. Click on your name on the top bar, then go to personal details/location.

 

[KatieV]

So I picked up the piggies yesterday and they seem to be settling in well. She told me they were born on 1/4, so they'll be 4 weeks old tomorrow. Unfortunately, she sold the mother separately - I tried to get her as well. They are active little piggies though (and noisy)!

I've caught them nibbling at the pellets. They also devoured the clementine I gave them today (2 small sections). I'll make sure they have lots of hay. I took a look at the food list and need to stock up on more piggie approved veggies. Little Joe's kind of picky - he eats carrots, lettuce, tomato, and clementines. He turns up his nose at most other things, including peppers.

I also put a small dish of water in with them. They supposedly know how to drink out of a water bottle, but I don't want to risk it.

Comparing them to pictures, I believe one of them is a male and the other a female. It looks like Little Joe will get a buddy, but I'll need some advice on introducing them (I imagine the baby is too young at the moment). When will I have to separate the babies to ensure no litters?

 

[Wiebke]

You can also mush up some pellets for easier eating, but by four weeks old, they are fully able to eat all adult foods.

And sorry for the bad news, but if they are different genders, you need to separate NOW. Boys can start from 3 weeks onwards and girls can get pregnant from 4 weeks onwards. You are welcome to have their gender confirmed by posting pictures of the relevant bits in our pregnancy/sexing section.
here are the biological data: http://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html